I won’t​ be silenced

I was pulled the other day about an opinion I had made recently at work, apparently, it wasn’t appropriate, basically, it wasn’t the right time or place to have shared my opinion. A wave of shame smothered me but being compliant, I took it on the chin and apologised.

But after the meeting, it didn’t sit right and after a lifetime of feeling misunderstood or unheard, the feeling of shame hung around me and I needed more time to process it.

I find it hard sometimes in the workplace, after all, I am well known for my honesty and for the most time, it is welcomed, refreshing even, I am often praised for it, I am normally the one brave enough in room to say what everyone else is thinking because they are too afraid to speak up, but when my opinion goes against the status quo, the party line, I am expected to stay silent.

"Living with integrity means: Not settling for less than what you know you deserve in your relationships. Asking for what you want and need from others. Speaking your truth, even though it might create conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values. Making choices based on what you believe, and not what others believe.”
― Barbara De Angelis

Whilst I recognise that life is all about compromise and everyone has the right to their own opinions, what I struggle the most with is comprising my voice, or feeling like I have to compromise my true thoughts out of fear of offending someone. Particularly those in authority, or who are on a higher grade than me.

Some people assume that me speaking my truth comes easily, it comes from a place of confidence, self-assurance, at to be fair most of the time it does, but for the other times, it can be scary and daunting.

After a lifetime of feeling misunderstood (mainly because I was unable to articulate how I felt because I didn’t either know or was more concerned about upsetting someone else), I now realise that the feeling of being misunderstood didn’t come from others, but came from a lack of understanding myself.

I have worked hard and I am still working hard on being happy in my own skin and being true to myself. This hasn’t and isn’t easy either, this has required me to work on reversing years of self-doubt, undoing limiting beliefs and assumptions that have held me back from being true to myself.

Asking me to be silent, is like asking me to go back to the person I was years ago, pretending to be a person I no longer recognise or relate too.

Shhhhhhhhh don't say that It will get you into trouble
Don't like what I say?
Then look the other way
Being mindful of what I say
Just in case it is taken the wrong way
I won't conform
To some of societies norms
Don't worry about me
I’ll carry the slack
It’s ok I've got a strong back
I won't change me
I won't give me away
This is me, I am here to stay
Finally happier in my skin
I won't be silenced out of fear of not fitting in
Like me or not
That is your choice
But I will never be silenced
I will always have my voice
Tracey Ford
#Havingawordwimesen

Right, thats working on me sen for one day… I have got a life tha knows

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One Reply to “I won’t​ be silenced”

Well said Tracey, also the people who are saying / asking you not to express your concerns or whatever are the people who are afraid to speak because they know Jack shit about the circumstance of what you speak. Many of the hierarchy of the field that you work in need to respect that all the degrees and pen pushing doesn’t get the business done for those vulnerable souls. Knowing and experiencing that way of life gives a more rounded way forward. Never be silenced xxx